The Best Food Movies Streaming on Netflix Right Now

Few things bring people together like a great meal, which would help explain Hollywood’s penchant for using food as a narrative device in such classic films as My Dinner with Andre,Tampopo,Babette’s Feast,Eat Drink Man Woman,Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,Dinner Rush,Super Size Me,Sideways, and Ratatouille…just to name a few.

Like any film genre, there are good food movies and bad ones. There’s also a growing interest in tracing the origins of our food supply, which has resulted in an impressive output of independent food documentaries (many of which you can read about here).

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But when it comes to separating the cream from the crap in the “currently streaming” category of Netflix, we’ve done the prep work for you. From documentaries about the politics of eating, to narrative-driven feature films that throw calorie counts out the window, we’re serving up our picks for the 18 best food movies that you can watch right now on Netflix.

Somm (2012)

Good for: Vinophiles

Why you should watch it: What’s funnier than watching four talented, obsessed egomaniacs doing whatever it takes to pass one of the hardest exams that has ever existed? The much-feared Master Sommelier exam is an incredibly intense, multi-step process that tests sommeliers on pretty much everything there is to know about wine. It boasts one of the lowest pass rates of any exam in the world, and only 200 people have passed since its inception 40 years ago in the UK.

Like Water for Chocolate (1992)

Good for: Cooks who pour their hearts into whatever they make

Why you should watch it: Tita (Lumi Cavazos) and Pedro (Marco Leonardi) are madly in love. But Mexican society dictates that Tita must dedicate her life to her aging mother, not a husband. So Pedro marries Tita’s sister instead, ensursing that the two clandestine lovebirds will never be far apart. Tita does her best to put on a happy face, but a funny thing happens when she's tasked with baking her sister’s wedding cake: She realizes that she has the power to transfer her emotions into her food, resulting in a wedding cake that causes instantaneous sadness and romantic longing in all who eat it. While Tita and Pedro remain in-laws only, their intimacy continues in the food that she cooks, which is filmed in sensual detail by director Alfonso Arau.

The Trip (2010)

Good for: Anglophiles; wannabe British food critics

Why you should watch it: Let’s face it: Sometimes, the food industry takes itself too seriously. This side-splitting mockumentary provides the necessary diversion from more sober food-focused films. In The Trip, Steve Coogan has been assigned by The Observer to review fine-dining restaurants throughout the Lake District, Lancashire, and Yorkshire Dales—but, at the last minute, he finds himself without a traveling companion when he gets dumped by his girlfriend. Coogan is forced to invite his colleague along, British actor and comedian Rob Brydon. The two funnymen play fictionalized versions of themselves and, when they’re not busy sampling high-class food, they engage in impersonation of famous people or verbal sparring. Since neither is a food connoisseur, they come up with candid and honest remarks about their fine-dining experiences. At one golden moment in the film, Coogan describes the consistency of a foam, ginger beer, and whisky drink as "snot-like."

Jiro Dreams of Sushi (2011)

Good for: Raw fish lovers, and anyone interested in the pros and cons of obsession

Why you should watch it: Sukiyabashi Jiro is proof that the world’s best restaurants doesn’t always come in fancy packaging. Located in a subway station, this three Michelin-starred sushi joint is one of Tokyo’s hottest table. At its helm is Jiro Ono, the 87-year-old raw fish master who spends his days perfecting the fine art of susgi, and his evenings serving his iconic creations in a 10-seat space where diners cough up more than $300 apiece for the pleasure of tasting them. But the time has come for Jiro to think about passing his bamboo mats onto his eldest son, who is understandably petrified of living up to his dad’s name. David Gelb’s critically acclaimed documentary is an intriguing portrait of the pursuit of perfection, as well as the strain it can place on family dynamics. Don't order sushi when you watch it—those budget spicy tuna rolls will never live up to what you see in the screen.

The Fruit Hunters (2012)

Good for: Lovers of adventure and exotic fruit

Why you should watch it: Have you ever heard someone describe a fruit as tasting like “brown sugar, pecan, sweet potato”? In The Fruit Hunters, director Yung Chang travels the world to meet extraordinary fruit hunters and aficionados, including an Umbrian scholar who searches for rare plants in monasteries and catalogs them with the help of old paintings. On his travels, he bumps into an indigenous nomad in Borneo who can use plants to heal dogs’ wounds. Chang celebrates the knowledge and enthusiasm of the so-called fruit hunters, as well as the great beauty of the fruits and plants these people devote their lives to.

Spinning Plates (2013)

Good for: Aspiring chefs and restaurateurs

Why you should watch it: "It's not what you cook, it's why," reads the tagline of Spinning Plates. The personal dramas of the three chefs profiled take center stage in this inspiring documentary. The chefs and restaurants featured could not be more diverse: molecular-cuisine prodigy Grant Achatz of Alinea in Chicago; Mike and Cindy Breitbach of Breitbach Country Club dining in Iowa (the oldest bar and restaurant of the state, which also doubles as a community center); and Francisco and Gabby Martinez of La Cocina de Gabby in Arizona. The film looks at why people keep returning to the kitchen, even in the face of extreme difficulty.

Haute Cuisine (2012)

Good for: Fans of home-style French cooking

Why you should watch it: This beautifully-filmed biopic is based on a true story about President François Mitterrand and his personal chef. Haute Cuisine chronicles how Hortense Laborie (Catherine Frot), a renowned chef from Perigord, was appointed the private cook for the President and became responsible for creating all his meals at the Élysée Palace. "Truffles, stuffed cabbage, Rochefort jonchée and St. Honoré cake are essentially this static film’s plot points," writes the NY Times.

Vatel (2000)

Good for: Anyone who has dreamed of feasting like royalty

Why you should watch it: Vatel is a celebration of the over-the-top lifestyle of the French nobility during the 17th century. Chef and entertainer François Vatel (Gerard Depardieu) is hired by Louis II de Bourbon-Condé, a nobleman stricken by gout and financial instability. When King Louis XIV comes to visit the country estate of the Condé family, the prince entrusts Vatel to organize the most lavish meal imaginable. The movie alternates between sequences of epic feasts and the personal drama of Vatel, who finds himself infatuated with Anne de Montausier (Uma Thurman), the king’s new mistress.

Kings of Pastry (2009)

Good for: Those who know their fondant from their ganache

Why you should watch it: Oscar-nominated documentarians D.A. Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus have spent time with a number of visionaries, from Bob Dylan to Bill Clinton. In 2009 they were flies on the wall of The French Pastry School founder Jacquy Pfeiffer's kitchen, as he prepared for the pastry challenge of a lifetime: Un de Meilleurs Ouvriers de France (a.k.a. MOF), where the world’s top pastry-makers compete for a collar that marks them as the best of the best. Cupcake Wars it ain’t. It’s the kind of competition where a degree in structural engineering is just as important at sweets-making know-how. And one where grown men are not afraid to shed a tear when their desserts aren’t being as cooperative as they should be. Who knew cake-making could be so dramatic? The Scotland Herald said it best when it dubbed Kings of Pastry “The culinary Hurt Locker.”

Bottle Shock (2008)

Good for: Winos

Why you should watch it: While it lacks the heart of Alexander Payne’s Sideways (which is not currently streaming on Netflix but should be sought out immediately if you’ve never seen it), Randall Miller’s vino-focused Bottle Shock has certainly got legs. It’s a character-driven comedy that centers on the early days of Napa Valley’s rise as a legitimate wine-producing region, as wine shop owner Steven Spurrier (Alan Rickman) attempts to save his flailing business by pitting the area’s best vintners against France’s top winemakers. Though it’s based on actual events, Spurrier himself (yep, he’s a real guy) has challenged the accuracy of the film, even going so far as to threaten a defamation lawsuit. But hey, this is Hollywood, home of a little freedom called “creative liberty.” Throw back a bottle of Chardonnay and enjoy the ride.

The Cook, The Thief, His Wife, and Her Lover (1989)

Good for: Cineastes awaiting the day when Quentin Tarantino makes a food movie

Why you should watch it: The title kind of explains it all: a notorious gangster (Michael Gambon) has assumed control of a popular French eatery to which he drags his wife (Helen Mirren) on a nightly basis to taste the food of their talented chef (Richard Bohringer). But wifey’s hungrier for the shy bookshop owner (Alan Howard) who has become a regular at the restaurant. Elaborate food scenes abound, as do gratuitous amounts of sex and violence. Though it’s much more tame by today’s cinematic standards, The Cook, The Thief, His Wife, and Her Lover caused a maelstrom of controversy when the MPAA refused to grant it an R rating, leaving Miramax the choice of slapping an X rating on it or releasing it unrated. They opted for the latter, which only served to fuel the ratings fire. Roger Ebert was one of the loudest opponents of the MPAA’s decision, but even in his review of the film noted that it “is not an easy film to sit through. It doesn't simply make a show of being uncompromising—it is uncompromised in every single shot from beginning to end.” Maybe so, but the food looks delicious!

The Restaurateur (2010)

Good for: Shake Shack devotees

Why you should watch it: Binge-watch Top Chef Masters all you want. You still won’t learn a lick about running a successful restaurant empire. But witnessing the inner-workings of Danny Meyer’s culinary empire? Now you're onto something. Moviemaker Roger M. Sherman follows the man behind Gramery Tavern, Union Square Cafe, and Shake Shack as he spends a year constructing what will become two of his most popular eateries: Eleven Madison Park and Tabla. Meyer’s advice—and ability to keep his cool under enormous pressure—is worth the price of admission.

Hot Coffee (2011)

Good for: Iced coffee drinkers

Why you should watch it: In 1994, octogenarian Stella Liebeck filed what ABC News described as “the poster child of excessive lawsuits” when she sued McDonald’s after spilling a hot cup of coffee on her lap. The case became the punch line for many a late-night monologue and even inspired a Seinfeld storyline. But the facts surrounding Liebeck’s case are simply not as frivolous as they sound, and the photographic evidence of the injuries she sustained are not for the faint of heart. Though it’s a documentary more about tort reform than anything else, director Susan Saladoff offers a fascinating glimpse at the PR machine a fast-food behemoth like McDonald’s has at its disposal to maintain a positive public image.

Today's Special (2009)

Good for: Anyone who has ever slaved over a tandoor oven

Why you should watch it: When aspiring chef Samir (Aasif Mandvi) is overlooked for a promotion, he decides to pack his bags and head to Paris to pursue his fine-dining destiny. But his plans are put on hold when his father suffers a heart attack and Samir must temporarily assume control of the kitchen at his family’s rundown restaurant in Queens. There’s just one problem: Samir doesn’t know how to cook Indian food. With the help of a taxi driver who claims to have been a top chef in Bombay, Samir learns the delicate art of Indian cooking and discovers that all the technique in the world can’t compensate for a lack of passion.

Vegucated (2010)

Good for: Vegans who are tired of defending their dietary choices

Why you should watch it: Three carnivores walk into a vegan restaurant… What sounds like the setup to a bad joke is actually the challenge facing three animal-eating New Yorkers who are tasked with going vegan for six weeks by documentarian Marisa Miller Wolfson. What begins as a fun lark quickly turns into a lesson in the politics of food as the trio of newbie vegans learns about the dark side of the agriculture industry. “It’s like being a nun at an orgy,” one participant says of the struggle to remain steadfastly vegan in an animal-consuming world. The film’s low-budget production value only heightens its intimacy, giving carnivores a better idea of the challenges of being vegan.

Three Stars (2010)

Good for: Overachievers

Why you should watch it: A Michelin star: It’s the holy grail of the fine-dining world. But there’s no single path to achieving one, as filmmaker Lutz Hachmeister discovered when he took his camera into the kitchens of nine master chefs who’ve achieved the culinary world’s highest honor, documenting their daily lives and routines. Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Elena and Juan María Arzak, Hideki Ishikawa, and Olivier Roellinger are among those profiled.

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